Injury not stopping Guthrie 89er Days Queen

Jesse Henderson says she could think of only two things after breaking her arm in an all-terrain vehicle accident recently.

The Morrison High School senior thought about not being able to barrel race and that she would lose her recently won crown as the 2013 Guthrie 89er Days Queen.

“As soon as I felt the bone snap the first thing in my mind was barrel racing and my crown,” Henderson said. “It was the biggest thing to me. If I had lost my crown I would have been heartbroken.”

Not long after having surgery on her arm in Stillwater, Henderson, 17, got the news from her dad Rocky Henderson she had been hoping for. She wasn’t going to lose her crown because of the accident.

“My dad kept telling me everything was going to be okay,” she said. “I think it was the day after the surgery my dad came in and said he talked with Carrie Fryar (89er Queen Committee chair) and that I still had my crown. That was the best moment after the surgery.”

Henderson, who also attends Meridian Technology Center in Stillwater, said she had been familiar with the 89er Queen tradition since part of her family was originally from Guthrie.

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She says she decided to try out for this year’s competition after talking with last year’s 89er Queen Heather Luckinbill who also happens to attend MTC.

“I have known about the 89er Rodeo for many years especially since my grandparents were from Guthrie,” Henderson said. This year I decided I wanted to try out for the queen contest because I hope someday to run for Miss Rodeo Oklahoma.  I decided to search for pageants around here. I actually go to class at Meridian Technology Center with last year’s reigning queen Heather Lucknibill and I talked to her about it and she got me in contact with Carrie Fryar and we just went from there.”

Fryar said they had six participants try out for this year’s queen competition. Participants competed in a horsemanship pattern, speech and panel interview.

“I was very pleased with the numbers,” Fryar said. “We had three girls who decided not to compete because of work commitments or the turnout would have been even bigger. The group was young which is great. I think next year we will have even a larger group.”

Fryar said Henderson will be a good ambassador for the Guthrie 89er Days celebration which runs April 16-20.

“She has a great presence about her,” Fryar said. “She wants to be out there and promote. She eventually wants to run for Miss Rodeo Oklahoma. She is a very mature and put together 17-year-old young lady. She will be a very good ambassador.”

Fryar said some of the duties of the 89er Queen include being a part of the 89er Days Rodeo, attending the 89er Queen breakfast, speaking before various school, civic and community groups as well as appearing in the 89er Days parade on Saturday, April 20.

Henderson said she was pleased when her name was called as the new queen.

“I was extremely excited,” she said. “We put a lot of effort into this competition. When she announced the title I just breathed again. I’m excited and nervous. This is what I really want to do. I’m just really happy to represent Guthrie.

Fryar said the 89er queen selection committee also chose a new 89er Princess in Emily Smith, 11 of Olustee. She said having a 89er Princess allows helps lay the groundwork for future participants in the queen competition.

Henderson said she is determined to make sure that a broken arm doesn’t slow her down. She says she has a strong support team of family members to help her.

“I definitely have a support team,” she said. “My dad and my cousin Kayla (Henderson) are not going to let me lose my crown. They are going to be with me every step of the way. They are by far my biggest supporters.”

Henderson, who turns 18 on the day of the 89er Day parade, said her future plans include attending Oklahoma State University where she plans to major in agriculture business and try out for the OSU Rodeo team.

Henderson said one of her goals of being 89er Queen is to be a role model for young girls.

“I love the idea of being a rodeo queen,” Henderson said. “I always looked up to them as a kid. I want to be a role model for those little girls. I just know that I am not going to let this (broken arm) slow me down no matter what.”

The ‘89er Celebration activities this year includes the Chuck Wagon dinner served from 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16 at the Logan County Fairgrounds. The event includes a dinner, auction and an Irish dance performance from Betty Thompson who served as Miss Oklahoma 2011 and was first runner-up in the Miss America pageant. Other events include a carnival from April 17-21; youth all-star baseball game between Guthrie and Edmond on Thursday, April 18; free Guthrie High School Jazz Band concert at the Guthrie Post office on Thursday, April 18; a classic car show on Friday, April 19; a rodeo at the Logan County Fairgrounds Friday April 19 and Saturday April 20 at the Logan County Fairgrounds; Stake Your Claim 5K Run, Saturday, April 20  and the 89er Day Parade will be held Saturday April 20 at noon with former Devon Energy CEO Larry Nichols and his wife Polly serving as parade grand marshals.

 For more information visit www.89erdays.com.